The Grand National has Randox Health "lined up to take over" as a new sponsor for a five-year period from '17, according to Chris Cook of the London GUARDIAN. Randox Health, a "previously low-profile healthcare company based in Northern Ireland," will succeed Crabbie's, whose three-year period as backers of the Aintree race "will end after next month’s running." The departure of Crabbie's from the scene "has been well anticipated, particularly following losses sustained by its parent company, Halewood." The drinks manufacturer committed to the Grand National in Aug. '13, as a result of which deal the race offered £1M in prize money for the first time. Halewood will "maintain its involvement with Aintree by sponsoring a Grade One novice hurdle on the day before the National." A "personal interest in horses held by a senior figure has helped to forge the association between Aintree and its new sponsor." Randox Health was founded in County Antrim in '82 by Peter Fitzgerald, who was described in one news report of '14 as "one of just three key figures in Northern Ireland’s polo set." Attracting a new sponsor into racing, "rather than relying on the easy route of taking a bookmaker’s money," counts as "something of a coup" and serves to underline the "pulling power" of the National, which is expected to attract a TV audience of more than 9 million in its new tea-time slot of 5:15pm when staged on April 9 (GUARDIAN, 3/8). The BELFAST TELEGRAPH reported Grand National currently attracts one of the "largest live TV audiences in sport and Channel 4’s largest audience of the year." From '17, the race will be broadcast on ITV. Worldwide the event attracts an estimated TV audience of around 600 million (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 3/8).
